HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS (Reservation and priority for special cases)

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will ascertain from the Housing and Development Board whether it will consider (a) reserving a number of flats on the ground and first floors for applicants who are, or the members of whose families are, medically certified to be suffering from cardiac diseases or other physical disabilities; (b) giving priority to applicants who are staying in dilapidated accommodation and flood-prone surroundings or who are being evicted by private developers; and (c) setting aside a number of ground floor, one-room flats in Toa Payoh to be used as playrooms for children.

Mr Ho Cheng Choon (for the Minister for Law and National Development): (a) Sir, it is the practice of the Housing and Development Board to give special consideration to applicants, suffering from ailments such as paralysis an4 cardiac diseases in respect of the allotment of ground and first floor flats.

(b) The Board does give priority to applicants who are staying in dilapidated accommodation, provided a demolition notice has been served by the Chief Building Surveyor. As regards people staying in flood-prone areas, special consideration is given if these areas are being redeveloped, and the land subject to acquisition by the Government. No priority, however, is given to applicants evicted by private developers as, in many cases, such evicted tenants obtain hand-some compensation payments from the developers.

(c) In Toa Payoh, six blocks of flats already have the ground floors used as children's play areas. Also, 13 more blocks now under construction will have the ground floors reserved to be used as children's play areas. Further, there are other playgrounds provided in the Toa Payoh Estate for the use of children.

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee (Toa Payoh): Sir, as regards the answer to Question 8 (a) , I do not think that is the position. I wrote two letters to the Housing and Development Board. One was to the Estates Officer for the same case, and the application was turned down. The other letter was addressed to the Chairman of the Allocation Committee and, the reply was also in the negative.

As regards Question 8 (c) - the provision of playrooms for children on the ground floors of flats - the blocks of flats mentioned by the Parliamentary Secretary are in the west and central areas. But there are no such facilities in the east.

Mr N. Govindasamy: What is your supplementary question, Mr Cheong?

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee: Sir, I was only seeking clarification. I am not asking a supplementary question.